Dead-center device



April 8, 1930. J. H. 'II'OWERS 1,753,485

DEAD CENTER DEVICE Original Filed May 15. 1926 11v ENTOR. C 2/ M BY 6 ATTORNEY}! Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES JOHN H. TOWERS, 0F BALSA M LAKE, WISCONSIN DEAD-CENTER :onvicn Original application filed May 15, 1926, Serial No. 109,401. Divided and this application filed June 6,

' 1927. Serial No. 196,729.

This is a division of my application filed May 15, 1926, Serial No. 109,401.

This invention relates to an improved me chanical movement designed to be employed for converting reciprocating movement into movement of rotation, the object of the invention being to provide an assemblage of mechanical elements which will co-operate to overcome dead centers. The invention is applicable for use in connection with steam engines, gas engines, windmills, hand operated devices, or in any rela Figure 3 is a modification of the device.

In the drawings the reference numeral 1 denotes a suitable fixed base or support, the numeral 2 denotes a wheel rotating about a fixed center 4 and the numeral 15 denotes a fixed cylinder having a reciprocating piston 14 pivoted with a piston rod 13. p

It is desired to transform the reciprocatory movement of the piston rod 13 into rotary movement of the wheel 2 by suitable assemblage of mechanical elements which are so related that they eflectively overcome dead center.

Pivotally connected to the piston rod 13 as at 11 is a connecting rod 12, which at its opposite end is pivoted, as at 10, to the ver-- tical arm 8 of an angle crank 5, the horizontal arm of which is connected toa fly Wheel 2 by means of a crank pin 3. The angle crank is pivoted at 6 to an oscillating rocker arm 7 which is pivoted as at 9 to the stationary support 1, as shown. The pressure cylinder 21 is provided with a piston 20 having a piston rod 19'which is connected at 18 to the connecting rod 16. This connectin rod'16 is connected at 6 to the rocker arm Suitable valves are connected to the cylinder 21 as at 22 and 23 which control the pressure supply, and permit compressed fluid to enter at will to chamber 24, or 25, of said cylinder 21, depending on the direction of rotation of the wheel 2.

The rocker arm 7 is adapted to swing to and fro as a pendulum, oscillating about a fixed pivot and carries with it the oscillating pivot 6 which swings in the arc of a circle indicated by the arrows.

Assuming now that the mechanism is in a position shown in the full lines in Figure 1, and that compressed fluid enters into pressurecylinder 21 in thechamber 253.1101 remains a constant pressure as long as the Wheel is to rotate in this direction.

Compressedfluidis allowed to enter into cylinder 15 in chamber 27, whereupon the piston 14 is moved to the right in the direction of the arrow. When the angle crank has reached the position indicated in the full lines or what would be a dead center position, the pressure still acting on piston 14 throws the pivot 3 past the dead center, at this mo-- ment, due to the downward pressure on piston 20 and gives the wheel 2 continuous motion, the same thing happens at the opposite dead center, and the wheel continues to rotate in a counter clockwise direction.

Obviously, if the force operating from the piston 20, upon the pivot 6 or any other point on the rocker arm whether extended or not past pivot 6, were reversed as for instance; if the valve 23 is opened to allow pressure to enter chamber'24 of cylinder 21 (the pres sure, of course, is allowed to exhaust from chamber 25) in cylinder 21 the direction of rotation of the wheel 2 will be reversed but the action of overcoming dead centers is the same.

Many changes may be restorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Forexample, the angle crank could be a T crank andthe power applied below the .pivot 6 and a reverse motion will be the result from' the direction as shown in Figure 1 of this drawing. Likewise, in place of the compression cylinder, any means may be employed which will produce a pressure upon the oscillating pivot on rocker arm 7, which pressure acts in cooperation with arm of the crank which is attached to the Wheel or rotary element.

What I claim is:

1. A device for overcoming dead centers comprising a rocker arm oscillating about a fixed pivot, an angle crank piv-otally connected to" the oscillating end of." the rocker arm, one arm of said crank being connected to a rotary element, and the other-adaptedto be operated from avsuitable-source of power, and means acting to produce pres sure upon the oscillating pivot of said'crank,

and means for reversing at will the direction of force 'o'f saldzmeans. 1

2. A device for overcoming dead centers,

comprising a rocker arm, an angle crank pivotally mounted on the oscillating end of saidrocker' arm, a connecting rod pivota-lly connected at one end with the oscillatingcnd of said rocker'arm, a piston pivotally connecteclito the other end of said connecting rod, and a: rotary element connected-with the other end of the'angle crank.

8., A device for overcoming dead centers, a rocker arm pivotally mounted at one end to a suitable support; an angle crank" pivotally m-ounted on'theoscillating end of said rocker arm, one'end of: the angle crank being connecte'd'to a rotaryielement, while the other end is connected with a suitable source-of power, a connectingjrod p ivotally connected atone end to the oscillatingendofthe' rocker arm, a' cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a pressure port at each end of the cylinder, said piston being "pivotally connectedto the other end of said connectingrod.

In'testimony whereof I 'afiix my signature. 7

JOHN H. TOWERS; 

